Man bites panda after panda bites man

BEIJING, Sep 21: A drunk Chinese man who tried to give a panda a hug at Beijing Zoo found himself biting it in self defence after his clumsy attempt at affection was savagely rejected, local media reported today.

Zhang Xinyan, a building worker on holiday from China's central Henan province, climbed into the enclosure of Gu Gu, a seven-year-old panda, at Beijing Zoo after drinking four pints of beer over lunch at a nearby restaurant, the Yanzhao Metropolis Daily said.

Mr Zhang, who couldn't remember the incident clearly, had wanted to hug the panda and shake its hand after seeing images of people doing it on television.

''When I was in there, the panda was eating bamboo. Then, it seemed some people shouted, which startled the panda. He rushed over to bite my leg,'' Zhang said.

Zhang, who tried in vain to push the panda away, was bitten twice and forced to the ground, the paper said.

''I took the opportunity to bite the panda's back, but its fur was too thick,'' Zhang said.

Eventually, a zoo worker used a hose to rescue Zhang from the panda's clinches, the paper said.

The panda was shocked by the experience, the paper said, but was ready to receive tourists once again.

REUTERS